How long since you last cleaned your oven?
3 months? 6 months? Longer?
No matter how long you’ve left it, this job may not be as bad as you think if you use the right method. We have some options!
How do you clean a badly dirty oven?
Your first thought may be to hit the supermarket for a commercial oven cleaner, but what if we told you that this job can get done (and done well) using mostly natural ingredients?
Why are natural products a good idea? Oven cleaners contain a myriad of chemicals, can cause skin or eye irritation, and usually smell toxic.
Ditch the chemicals and try this method instead.
Supplies
- 1/4 cup liquid dish detergent
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup sea salt
- Sponge or cloth
- Scouring pad
- Spray bottle
- White Vinegar
- Towel or microfiber cloth
Step 1
Combine dish detergent, baking soda, and salt to create a paste. Stir together with a little extra water until you get a consistency similar to toothpaste.
Step 2
Pull the racks out and soak them with warm water and detergent. Flip the racks halfway through the soaking time and run some fresh water/detergent to make sure all sections are cleaned.
Step 3
Coat the inside of the oven with the paste and let it sit for a few hours or overnight if possible.
Step 4
Wipe the inside of your oven down with a sponge or cloth and some warm water. Scrub until removed but keep in mind you may need to use a scouring pad for stubborn grime.
Step 5
Mix a 1:2 solution of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, then spray inside the oven and wipe down to remove paste residue. Wipe with a towel.
If you've completed step 4, spray and wipe away this solution. You can use this solution to clean the oven door as well – just spray and wipe away.
Step 6
Pop your clean racks back in!
What is the fastest way to clean oven racks?
Getting the oven racks clean is one of the hardest parts of this task, with stubborn grime and baked-on food very tough to shift. If our above step isn’t working, try the below two methods.
Clean Oven Racks in the Bathtub
Grab an old towel and place it in the bath to avoid any grime from damaging the bath as well. Remember the plug!
Put the racks on top and pour enough hot water on them to cover them completely, add at least half a cup of dishwashing detergent and leave it overnight.
The next day, scrub away! A nylon-bristled brush or old toothbrush can help dislodge any tricky messes. Give everything a rinse (including the bath if required).
Clean Oven Racks with Aluminium Foil
Grab your aluminium foil and put in a bath of hot water. Place a dishwasher tablet in the water – it will react with the foil and help with the clean.
Give it around 3 hours and pull out the plug. Once you’ve removed the foil, it should be simple enough to wipe them down. don’t forget to rinse!
Can I clean my oven with a dishwasher tablet?
One little trick gaining popularity on the internet is cleaning your oven with a dishwasher tablet.
In summary:
- Scrub the powder dishwasher tablet across the glass door, switching sides as you go. Dip it in warm water as you go.
- You may need to use a couple of tablets for this job.
- Wipe the gunk down with a paper towel, before using a wet cloth to scoop up leftover residue.
- If there are still pieces of grime left, crumble up the rest of the tablet and scrub the door before wiping it down with a wet cloth.
How Can I Keep My Oven Clean?
Once you have your oven shining clean, you’re going to want to keep it that way.
- For maintenance, clean your oven with lemons once a month. Warm the oven to 120 degrees, cut two lemons in half and place them in an oven-proof bowl. Pop your bowl in the oven for an hour before turning it off. Take the bowl out and wipe your oven down, scrubbing where necessary.
This is easy enough to do that you should be able to get it done regularly.
- You should also be wiping the oven down right after cooking (especially if there’s a mess) before spills have a chance to dry.
